You’ve seen the Château Frontenac and walked Petit-Champlain. These hidden gems in Québec City are the corners most visitors walk straight past.
1. Visit a library inside an old jail
The Morrin Centre was Québec City’s first prison. Today it holds a beautiful Victorian library — and you can still tour the original cells.
2. Eat breakfast in silence at a monastery
At the Monastère des Augustines, founded by nuns who ran the city’s first hospital, breakfast is served in silence. It’s stranger, and more restful, than it sounds.
3. Walk through the Holy Door
The Basilica-Cathedral Notre-Dame de Québec has a Holy Door, one of only a handful outside Rome. It opens only in special jubilee years, but the basilica is worth a visit at any time.
4. Spend time in Wendake
Twenty minutes north, Wendake is home to the Huron-Wendat Nation. Visit the Huron-Wendat Museum, see a traditional longhouse and eat at a restaurant serving First Nations cuisine.
5. Find yourself in the Fresque des Québécois
This huge trompe-l’œil mural near Place Royale paints four centuries of Québec history onto a single wall. Look closely — the windows, stairs and people aren’t real.
6. Take the ferry to Lévis after dark
The twelve-minute crossing is a commuter ferry, not a tour, and that’s the point: it’s the cheapest, best view of the Château Frontenac lit up at night.
7. Go up the Observatoire de la Capitale
From the 31st floor of a tower near Parliament, you can see the whole city laid out — the walls, the river and the Laurentians beyond.
8. Browse rue du Trésor
A narrow lane off Place d’Armes where local artists have hung their work outdoors since the 1960s. Prints here make good, small souvenirs.
9. Read in a converted church
The Maison de la littérature fills a 19th-century church with books, writing workshops and a modern glass extension. Quiet, free and lovely inside.
10. Try (or watch) ice canoeing
In winter, teams paddle and push canoes across the frozen, moving St. Lawrence — a Québec tradition. Some outfitters let visitors try it. Read more in our guide to Québec City winter activities.
Plan the rest
Pair these with the classics in our Québec City bucket list, or make it a grown-up trip with things to do for adults. With children? Several of these work for them too — see things to do with kids. Find them all on our activity map. Looking for more? Here are more unique things to do in Québec City.
Frequently asked questions
What are some hidden gems in Québec City?
The Morrin Centre’s library and old jail cells, a silent breakfast at the Monastère des Augustines, the Fresque des Québécois, rue du Trésor and the Maison de la littérature.
What is the best free view of Québec City?
Dufferin Terrace is free and close. For the classic skyline view of the Château Frontenac, take the inexpensive Québec–Lévis ferry, especially after dark.
Can you visit Indigenous communities near Québec City?
Yes. Wendake, home to the Huron-Wendat Nation, is about 20 minutes north and welcomes visitors with a museum, cultural experiences and restaurants.
What is unusual to do in Québec City in winter?
Sleep in the Hôtel de Glace, try ice canoeing on the St. Lawrence, or ride the 1884 toboggan slide beside the Château Frontenac.
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